556. Is All Seafood Halal? What About Shrimps And Sharks?

By Asma bint Shameem 

In determining whether something is halaal or haraam to consume, the principle of the Sharee’ah is that unless the thing is mentioned in the Qur’aan and/or authentic ahaadeeth as something forbidden, it is considered HALAAL for us to consume. 

So we can’t say something is disallowed to consume unless there’s PROOF of that from the Sharee’ah. 

Allaah says.

“So eat of the sustenance which Allaah has provided for you, lawful and good; and be grateful for the favors of Allaah,  if it is He whom you serve. 

He has only forbidden you: dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (meat) over which the name of other than Allaah has been invoked. 

But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits,then Allaah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 

But say not for any false thing that your tongues may put forth "This is lawful and this is forbidden" so as to ascribe false things to Allaah.   

For those who ascribe false things to Allaah will never prosper.”

(Surah Nahl: 114-116)

Thus, when we look at the Qur’aan and authentic ahaadeeth, we see that ALL seafood is *halaal*. 

Allaah says:

“It is He (Allaah) Who has subjected the sea to your service so that you may get fresh flesh from it to eat and bring out of it articles of ornaments,  which you wear.”  (Surah an-Nahl:14)

And He says: 

“Lawful to you is (the pursuit of) water-game and its use for food – for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel…” [al-Maa’idah 5:96]. 

Ibn ‘Abbaas explained the above Aayah and said: 

“ Sayduhu (lit. hunting, pursuit) refers to whatever is taken from it alive, and ta’aamuhu (lit. its food) means whatever is taken dead.”

Umar ibn al-Khattaab radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“Water game means what is hunted, and its food is what the sea throws out (onto the shore).” (al-Bukhaari) 

Shurayh radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“Everything in the sea is madhbooh (slaughtered).” (al-Bukhaari) 

Abu Hurairah radhi Allaahu anhu said that a man asked the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam:

"O Messenger of Allaah, we sail on the ocean and we carry only a little water.  If we use it for ablution, we will have to go thirsty. 

May we use sea water for ablution?"

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"Its (the sea) water is pure and (even) its dead (animals) are lawful (i.e., they can be eaten without any prescribed slaughtering)." (al-Bukhaari) 

 

Shaikh Salih al-Munajjid said:

“ALL kinds of food from the sea are permissible, whether they are plants or animals, alive or dead.”

This proves that ALL types sea food are halaal, whether it’s crabs, prawns, shrimps, fish eggs, even sharks and whales; ANYTHING that predominantly lives in the sea.

However, if there’s something that’s *harmful* for us to consume, then obviously we shouldn’t eat it and it’s forbidden for us, irrespective of whether it comes from the sea or land. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm” (Ibn Maajah- saheeh by al-Albaani)”

So say Alhamdulillaah and eat from the sea, what you like. 

And ENJOY the blessings of your Rabb. 

‎فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?”

 And Allaah knows best